Will swelling from a facelift and fat transfer performed at the same time cause loose skin?

Question

I'm planning a facelift and fat grafting from my body onto my face. Do you think it might be a better idea to do the fat grafting at a later time, once the post-op facelift swelling has gone away? Doing everything together sounds more convenient, but I'm worried that all the swelling after the facelift together with the grafted fat that in worst case may not stay, might stretch the newly tightened skin again and leave the face with some sag even after having these procedures.

Erman Ak, MD · Answer

A deep face and neck lift addresses sagging skin, muscle laxity, and underlying structural changes, providing a more youthful and lifted appearance. Fat grafting, on the other hand, is often used to restore volume to areas that have lost fat, such as the cheeks, under the eyes, or around the jawline. By performing both procedures in the same stage, we can achieve a more harmonious and natural-looking result, as the lifting of the skin and tissues from the facelift creates a better foundation for fat transfer.
Combining these procedures can also help to reduce the overall recovery time, as you're only undergoing one surgery and anesthesia session, rather than two separate ones. Additionally, it allows us to assess and sculpt the face more comprehensively, ensuring the fat is strategically placed to enhance the contours and balance of your facial features.
MD Erman Ak

Guray Yesiladali, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Facelift and fat transfer procedures are often performed together to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Postoperative swelling is a normal part of the healing process for both procedures. Swelling typically peaks within the first few days and gradually subsides over several weeks to months, depending on the extent of the procedures and individual healing responses.
Swelling itself does not cause loose skin. On the contrary, a well-performed facelift tightens the skin and underlying tissues, and the fat transfer helps restore volume. However, factors such as skin elasticity, the amount of redundant skin before the surgery, and how the body responds to healing can affect the final results. In some cases, if the skin's elasticity is already significantly compromised, there might be a need for additional skin tightening or adjustment over time.
Proper post-surgical care and follow-up consultations with your plastic surgeon are essential to monitor healing and ensure optimal results.

Jill Hessler, MD · Answer

Many patients are concerned with having too many procedures all at once and the recovery period. I commonly combine fat transfer with my facelift and blepharoplasty procedures without a concern. There will be slightly more swelling having the procedures performed together, but it shouldn't be a degree of swelling that will compromise your long term result. I would also discuss with your surgeon the amount of fat transfer that will be performed. Historically, many surgeons performed extremely large volume of fat transfer (over 100 cc to the face) and this could cause significant prolonged swelling. I recommend smaller volumes of fat transfer with my deep plane facelift procedures. I feel the facelift should do most of the rejuvenation and the fat transfer just creates subtle volume enhancement.

Jacob Tower, MD · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. These procedures can be done safely and effectively together--I do this routinely. Generally speaking, the swelling that occurs after surgery does not impact the placement of transferred fat. Nor does it cause skin to stretch and sag, as you describe in your concerns. Good luck!

Best,
Dr. Tower

Safa Manav, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

It's generally recommended to wait about 6 to 12 weeks after a facelift before undergoing additional procedures like liposuction and a breast lift. This allows ample time for initial healing and reduces the risk of complications. However, your specific recovery timeline may vary, so consult with both your facelift surgeon and the surgeons performing the lipo and breast lift to get personalized advice based on your individual healing progress.

Will swelling from a facelift and fat transfer performed at the same time cause loose skin?

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Will swelling from a facelift and fat transfer performed at the same time cause loose skin?

Answers (9)

Answer: Fat Grafting with Facelift

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